Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 62811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Ignoring her, Jared lifted his cell and made a call. “Send security to Sasha Keaton’s dressing room and call the police,” he said.
“What happened?” Xander asked, his arm now wrapped firmly around her waist.
“Someone broke in and trashed the room.” Jared set his jaw. Arms braced across his chest, he blocked her from going inside.
“Here? How? Everyone inside has been checked at the door. Vetted.” She shook her head, her body trembling. “What did they do?”
“Your clothes were scattered and cut up, and there’s a note on the mirror across from the door. The same type of cutout lettering used in the other notes,” Jared said, oblivious to the nausea filling her.
“You need to make sure the police were notified.” Xander’s tight voice told her all she needed to know about his reaction.
Before Jared could reply, two uniformed security guards ran up the stairs and joined them outside the room. “The police are on their way,” one of them said.
“Good,” Xander muttered. “Come on. Let’s go somewhere quiet and let everyone do their jobs,” he said into her ear, his hands now settled on her forearms.
Jared nodded. “Stay put. They’ll want to question you both.”
“We’ll be in the empty bedroom at the end of the hall,” Xander said.
He started to turn her but she dug in her heels. Or rather her bare feet. “What did the note say?”
Jared glanced over her head to Xander, and Sasha drew back her shoulders. “You’re my security. This stalker is after me. Now tell me.”
Jared nodded in understanding. “The note said, He can’t have you. MINE,” he said, emphasizing the last word.
She blinked as the words penetrated. “Wait. How does this person know about you?” She spun to Xander. “About us? And how? Has he been following us? Is he here watching?” she asked, panic spiraling.
All day today, she’d felt safe on the closed set and yet somehow … she wasn’t.
Time ticked by slowly. Sasha sat on the edge of the bed in the large room, staring at the closed door as they waited for word from someone about the destruction in her assigned room. They didn’t talk because there was nothing to say until they knew more.
Finally, Jared knocked and Xander let him in. “Okay, so the police need to talk to you so you can file a formal report. And then we can go home. Right now we don’t know anything, but we’re running checks on everyone who signed in today.”
Xander’s jaw clenched and all Sasha could do was nod.
“Are you kidding me?” Cassidy’s loud voice sounded from outside the door. “You’re questioning me?”
Sasha jumped up from the mattress and strode past Xander and Jared, yanking the door open. A cop tapping notes on his phone stood with Cassidy next to him.
He glanced up. “Ma’am, I just need to know where you were from the time Ms. Keaton went down to film.”
“This is ridiculous. Sasha, tell them.” Cassidy folded her arms across her chest, glaring at the officer.
Sasha was offended for her friend and assistant. “She was on set all day. I suggest you go looking for the person responsible and stop wasting your time with my people.” Reaching out, she pulled Cass inside the room with her.
Shooting her a look, Jared walked out to talk to the officer, leaving the door cracked open behind him.
“I’m sorry.” Sasha pulled her friend in for a hug, meeting Xander’s gaze over her shoulder. She could hear his thoughts. They’re just doing their job. She didn’t care. She trusted Cassidy.
For the next hour, the police questioned Sasha until they were satisfied they’d gotten all the information they needed.
Xander expelled a harsh breath. “Okay, ladies, it’s been a long day,” he said to Cassidy and Sasha. “Let’s get out of here. Cassidy, do you want us to take you back to the hotel?” he offered.
She shook her head. “I’ll go with my security but thanks for the offer.” She started for the door and turned. “Xander, I didn’t forget about talking to Axel. He’s interested in a conversation with your brother. I’ll send you his number and Dash can get in touch.”
Xander glanced at Sasha, surprised. “You remembered.”
“Of course I did. It’s important to you.” Their gazes met and held, and the heaviness in her chest that had been present all day eased.
“Okay, you two lovebirds.” Cassidy clapped her hands loudly and Sasha jumped. “Time to go, like you said.”
Cassidy grinned and they headed out, Jared immediately following after them.
* * *
After returning to Xander’s apartment, Xander had walked Bella while Sasha took a shower. They ordered dinner and then Xander showered, too, meeting up with Sasha in the kitchen to eat. All the while, his anger and frustration had continued to rise and was near the boiling point. That someone had gotten into Sasha’s room in the on-set mansion meant the person stalking her was on the crew. Or had a connection with someone there who’d let him or her inside. His gut churned with mixed emotions from the entire day.